Plant for the preparation of hydrogen under pressure



Oct. 26, 1943. G. F. JAUBERT 2,332,915

PLANT FOR THE PREPARATION OF HYDROGEN UNDER PRESSURE Filed Mafch 12', 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 1 M 2 g: a

abtmgyi PLANT FOR THE PREPARATION OF HYDROGEN UNDER PRESSURE Filed March 12, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 26, 1943. G. F. JAUBERT PLANT FOR THE PREPARATION OF HYDROGEN UNDER PRESSURE Filed March 12, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q f c/ae/erif,

III a I Oct. 26, 1943- F. JAUBERT 2,332,915

PLANT FOR THE PREPARATION OF HYDROGEN UNDER PRESSURE Get 26, 1943. F, JAUBERT PLANT FOR THE PREPARATION OF HYDROGEN UNDER PRESSURE Filed March 12, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct 26, 1943 PLANT FOR THE rimrhnarroN or nY'nao. ,GEN UNDER rnnssoan Georges Francois Jaubert, Paris, France; vested in the Alien Property Custodian g Application March 12, 1940, Serial No. 323,624 I In France March 22. 1939 51 Claims. (01. 23-311) This invention relates to an improved plant for the preparation of hydrogen which is to be used for instance for inflating balloons or the like. The plant is constructed for the storing of gas under very high pressure and is capable of producing such gas either continuously or intermittently.

It has already been proposed to discontinuously produce hydrogen by causing a mixture of ferrosilicon in the state of 8- p wder to be acted upon by an aqueous solution of caustic soda, the reaction taking place in a strong receptacle. In such an arrangement when large quantities of hydrogen are to be obtained, itis necessary to use a receptacle having a, very great volume in accordance with the quantity of gas to be obtained. Owing to the fact that the process for the preparation of hydrogen has a technical value only when the gas obtained is produced under a very high pressure, for instance 200 atm. per square centimeter, it is necessary to use very large re ceptacles which consequently are very heavy and diflicult to transport.

The hydrogen genera-ting plant is used where for instance the balloons are to be inflated, thus the plant is preferably mounted on a vehicle in order to render-its transportation easier. It results that the weight of the generator has a very great importance, said weight having to be as small as possible. Said generator is constructed in the shape of a hollow cylinder the thickness of which increases more quickly than its diameter so that when it is desired to increase the capacity of the same, it is usual to build longer cylinders with a small diameter. Even when operating as hereabove indicated, thegenerators are very heavy, amounting to 1200l500 kgs. for a generator of about 500 liters.

It has been proposed to cause said generators to swivel ,on their transporting carriage and to provide said generators with trunnions so that said generators may occupy alhorizontal position during their tr ansportation,'and a vertical position when in operation for theproduction of hy drogen. t With said devices it is necessary to dig a deep pit under the generatorin order to accommodate the generator in a vertical position when in operation. It was-consequentlyimpossible heretofore torealize'aportable apparatus or plant capable of producing large quantities of hydrogen and more especially capable of a'continuous production, a problem the solution of which is a very important one for the inflation I of balloons in the open country.

in combination a convenient number of tubular generators of hydrogen in which the reaction of the convenient substances or products is to be efiected, said generators being preferably fed by a common source of lye of soda and conveniently connected with a common collector for the reception ofthe gas generated and comprising besides a piping which allows same to be in communication with each other at the desired time of 10 operation with a view to-use the heat reaction of one or several generators producing hydrogen for preparing and starting the reaction of one or.

several other generators thus securing by a con- .venient working of the several generators the production of hydrogen at a desired pressure and in a continuous or discontinuous manner without having to bring external heat and with a highly reduced consumption of substancessuch ,as caustic soda which are used for the prepara tion of hydrogen.

According to this invention a wheeled carriage constituting an easily movable plant receives one, two, or a greater number of generators, preferably tubular in shape and having a small length,

'said generators being provided with a conveniently tight closure and receiving a charge of ferro-silicon which being attacked by water in presence of caustic sodaproduces hydrogen at the desired high pressure.

The. accompanying drawings which show'as a preferred embodiment of,-this invention a constructional form of the plant comprising two generators of hydrogen:

Figs. 1, -2 and 3, respectively show an eleva- 5 tion, a side view and a plan view of a simple form of a plant located on a transporting carriage,

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram, a single genera tor being shown in the-figure in order not to 0 complicatethe drawing,

ing device for the generator.

The plant located on a frame I provided with wheels 2 for itseasy transportation and thus allowing the production of hydrogen in the very place where the same is to be utilized is provided in this embodiment with two generators 3, 4; each of them (Figs. 1 and 4) comprising a tubular resistant receptacle 5, closed at its lower end, and the upper end of which is pro-.

vided with a closure in the form of an obturator The plant according to this'invention comprises 6 constituted by a screw threaded member 1 (Fig.

6) having a movable head 8 which is provided with india-rubber washers 9 (Fig. 4) and a pad in which is directly submitted to the pressure which exists in the tubular'receptacle 5.

Said pad is provided with a water jacket ll having an inlet pipe l2 and an outlet pipe l3. The 'obturator together with Removable head is provided with a central conduit I4 closed at its upper end by means of a plug l5 (Fig. '7) which is also provided with the movable head and has a locking bar l5 which engages notches I! (Fig. 6) provided at the upper end of said conduit l4, thus securing a perfectly tight closure of said conduit.

The tubular receptacle 5 isprovided with a removable internal basket l8 which is to receive the ferro-silicon used for the production of hydrogen. The basket l8 together with the generator 5 is cooled by means of a tubular coil 19 in which circulating water-is fed by means of a pipe 20 provided with a cock 2| connected with a pump 22. Said coil is provided with an outlet 23 (Figs. 4 5nd 5).,

As shown in the diagram of Fig. 5, the outlet of coil I311 of generator 3 may be brought into communciation through the three-way cock 24,

either with the open air by a tube 25 or with a conduit 25 connected through the three-way cook 21 with the conduit 20b feeding the coil lfl b of the generator]. Similarly the outlet 23b of coil lilb of the generator 4 maybe brought into communication by means of a cock 28 with an outlet 23 or with a conduit 30 communicating by means of a cock 3| with a conduit 20a which feeds the coil l3a of generator 3.

The pipe-|2 o'f 'thewater jacket is connected with'the delivery side 32 of a pump- 33 which besides feeds through a pipe 34 a tank 35 constituting a water jacket for the'head of the tubular receptacle 5 constituting each of the generators 3, 4.

In the tubular receptacles 5 ends the delivery pipe 35 (Fig. 4) of a pump 31, said, pipe 35 comprising a valve 38 together with a draining cock 33. The pump 31 is connected through its suction side 45 with a tank 4| containing caustic soda and provided with a false bottom. 42 with a cock 43 for the preparation of the solution of caustic soda. The water which is necessary for the preparation of said solution is fed to the tank 4! by the delivery pipe 44 of a pump 45.

The receptacle 5 which constitutes each of the generators" 3, 4, is provided at its upper part with an overflow outlet 45 which receives a pipe -4'|.-

provided with a non-returnvalve 48 and arriving :at the upper end of a draining tank 49 provided at the lower end with an emptying pipe 55 provided with a cock. A pipe 5| for the collection of hydrogen is connected with the upper part of the tank 49 and connected with a cooling coil 52 located in a tank 53 to'which cooling water is brought by a pipe 54 fed by pump 45.

Thetubular coil 52 is' connected by a pipe 55 with a separating tank 53 provided with a drainbeen opened, one of said generators, for instance generator 4, receives the desired charge of ferrosilicon broken into fragments of convenient size, said charge being carried by an intermediate perforated bottom 63 (Fig. 4) of the basket l8 in order to leave a space between the same and the bottom of the receptacle 5. The closure of said generator is afterwards secured in its position.

The lower part of basket l8 of generator 3 receives a mixture of powdered ferro-silicon and caustic soda (for instance caustic soda of the trade in flakes) which charge is covered by fragments of ferro-silicon. The obturating cover of said generator 3 is then put into its closing position and the quantity of water necessary for the starting of reaction is poured into the generator through the central conduit l4, the obturator l5 (Figs. 4 and 7) being afterwards put The pump 22 which forces cold water into the tubular coil l9 keeps a convenient temperature inside receptacle 5 aswell as in .basket [8, the

steam which is formed in the coil l9 during said cooling being vented into the open air through the three-way cock 24 which connects the pipe 23 of the outlet of coil I9a (Fig. 5) with the tube 25.

The generated hydrogen together with the liquid contained inside the tank 5, passes through pipe 41 into the draining tank 49, the liquid carried with the hydrogen collecting into the lower part of said tank, while the hydrogen is cooled in the tubular coil 52 before entering the separator 55. The steam carried by the hydrogen and which is condensed inside the coil 52 collects in the lower, part of separator 56 and the hydrogen is afterwards delivered into the collector 6| for feeding tubes 52 after having passed through the chemical purifying tank 53.

After a while when the ferro-silicon contained in the generator 3 is almost exhausted-which is easily determined by the duration of operationthe cook 24 is closed, the discharging pipe 23 of the coil la is connected with pipe 20b by cock 2'! which thus allows the steam formed in the tubular coil l3a to pass into the tubular coil lflb of the generator 4. The cock 28is brought into a convenient position for causing the discharge pipe 23b of the coil lllb to communicate with the outlet 23, the operation bein'g conveniently managed so that when the ferro-silicon contained in the generator 3 is completely exhausted the femperature of the generator 4 has attained a convenient, value for securing the starting of the reaction and the immediate production of hydrogen in said generator when the sameis fed'with a solution of caustic soda.

The production of hydrogen is then occurring within the generator 4, while the generator 3 is turned off to allow the same to be recharged with ferro-silicon. Said charge is operated by using the .crane 33' (Fig. 1). When the ferro-silicon of generator 4 is exhausted, the generator 3 is again brought into operation, the manoeuvre deferro-silicon as required, the solution of caustic soda which is necessary for the production of;

' of the whole apparatus.

in the tank 4| without interrupting the operation The draining tank Q9 is spring mounted asat 64 (Fig. 4). A convenient sounding or other. alarm device being located on said tank in order to let the operator know when the quantity of liquid collected in the lower part of said tank attains a conveniently predetermined value, nec- -hy irogen under'high pressure, a platform, at

least one generator mounted on said-platform, a r

removable container within the generator, a cooling jacket within the generator, a-tight closure for said generator, a pump adiacent said gen-r erator, a supply tank connected to the suction I side of said pump, a pipe extending from the derise in temperature for ensuring the obtention oi high pressured hydrogen irom the plant, and

means for holding the generated hydrogen at a high pressure and for releasing the hydrogen comprising valve means'in the outlet means.

'3. In an improved plant for the preparation of.

hydrogen under high'pressure, a platform, at

least one generator mounted on said platform, a

removable container within the generator, a tight closure for said generator, a ump adjacent said generator, a supply tank co cted to the suction side of said pump, a pipe extending from the deit tin the emptying of same. A gauge-glass l livery side of said pump and communicating with could also be provided on said-tank for letting said generator, awater jacket in the form of a tu- .the operator know when the tank ll should be bular coil within the generator and positionedin drained. Indicating apparatus could also be proclose proximity to the wall thereof, valve convided onthe separator 58 as well as on purifier B. trolled outlet means near the top of the generator, The everal pumps may be provided with cor- 5 filter means associated with said outlet means; respon gmotors for the operation of same, or and means for regulating the flow of cooling fluid they could, be also controlled by a common motor through the cooling jacket: in response to a state if i I rise in temperature.

The inventi pp f the p q u i n 01 4. In an improved plant for the preparationof gaseous hydrogen for any use and more p l hydrogen under. high preSsure, a platform, at larly tor the production of hydr n designed I 1 least one vertical generator mounted on said platfill 11p storagetub s esigned for inflating b lform, cooling means within the generator, a reloons or even for the direct inflating or said baimovable basket th t generator, 3 fight loans on the very p t where said inflating 1188, closure for said generator, an inlet pipe-communF take place. eating with the generator at the top thereof and What I claim is: extending downwardly into the basket and ieed- In an pr plant the Preparation ing at the bottom thereoika valve controlled outhydrogen n r h h Pressure, a Platform, at let pipe near the top of the generator, a filter asleast On enerator mounted on said Platform, sociated with the outlet pipe and means for regucooling means within the generatorfa removable 1 m; t flow of fluid t r g t cooling container within the generator, a tight closure means in response t t rise in temperame for said generator, an inlet communicating with for ensuring of th bt nti of hi h pressured the generator and feeding at the bottom therehydrogen from t l t, of, valve controlled outlet means near the top 01' 5. In a improved plant for the preparation of the generator, a filter associated with the outlet 5 hydrogen under high pressure,a platform, a p1 means and m n f r regulating the w of fluid ralityof generators mounted on said platform, throu h he cooling means in response 190 a stated removable containers within the generators, a .rise in temperature for ensuring the obtention of tight closure 1' gg 1 said generators. a pump hi h pressured hydrogen from the, plan adjacent the generators, a supply tank connected 2. In an improved plant for the preparation of 40 t t suction side of saidpump, pipes extending from the delivery side of said pump and communicating with each generator, a tubular'coil constituting a water jacket inside. each generator,

and located in close vicinity to the wall thereof a valvecontrolled piping optionally connecting 0 said outlet means, and means for regulating the flow of cooling fluid through the coolingjackets in response to a stated rise in temperature and means for holding the generated hydrogen at a high pressure andi'or releasing the hydrogen comprising valve means in the outlet means.

GEORQE FRANCOIS JAUBERT. 

